Remembering Nikki Delamotte

We remember the slain Cleveland.com reporter’s time with Cleveland Magazine, and share ways you can support her family and celebrate her life.

Nikki Delamotte‘s wry, quick wit first appeared in Cleveland Magazine in our Letters page’s Top Tweets section, where the magazine shares its favorite social media posts each month.

“Staying single so next year when I’m nominated for that @ClevelandMag list I can fill in ‘Still waiting on Michael Stipe. Since 5th grade,”Delamotte tweeted in 2013, hoping our then-annual “Most Eligible Singles” issue could connect her with the REM frontman.

“I quickly learned that nothing you tweet, especially jokes about the Most Eligible Singles issue, is safe from being published,” Delamotte later tweeted, remembering the moment in 2018. “I became a regular freelancer for them nine months later, so I guess maybe this was my foot in the door.”

But Delamotte didn’t need jokes to get her foot in the door. Her talent spoke for itself — a potent mix of incisive reporting, compassion for her subjects and an unwavering passion for our evolving city. She shined as a community reporter, writing about music, education and more for Cleveland Magazine. She left her mark across the city’s pages further while covering dining for Cleveland Scene, arts and culture for Cleveland.com and more. She also authored the book 100 Things To Do In Cleveland Before You Die. The gifted reporter had a knack for finding and telling stories about great Clevelanders whose talents, passions and hard work made the city better — just like she did.

Delamotte was found shot to death Nov. 12 in Perrysburg Township in Wood County. She was 30 years old. Her death is an insurmountable loss, for not just the writing community, but for Cleveland causes, Cleveland people — Cleveland, as a whole. While her career was cut short, Delamotte’s massive impact sent a ripple through the community she covered, as evidenced by the outpouring of prayers, memories, remembered jokes, loving anecdotes and support for her friends and family. Throughout the journalism community, she was remembered as a champion for the marginalized, a steadfast cheerleader, and a mentor to many. Thank you, Nikki. You will be deeply missed.

Those wishing to support her friends and family can do so through multiple outlets. A GoFundMe page has been created to collect donations to support of her family by covering memorial costs. An in-person fundraiser is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. at The Side Quest in Lakewood, which plans to hold a raffle and donate 15 percent of sales to the Delamotte family.

A candlelight vigil is also planned for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Edgewater Park, near the Cleveland sign. Organizers ask mourners to bring their own candles and dress warmly. The event will be held rain or shine.

Finally, we’d like to share a few of our favorite stories that Delamotte wrote in her time as a contributor to Cleveland Magazine.